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Nov. 99,1929." 1,605,999

A. STUBER FLUID SUPPLY SYSTEM FileaJan. 51. 1921 I im Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

STATES PATENT? wwmi FLUID-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Application filed January 31, 1921. Serial No. 441 286.

This invention has to do with fluid supply systems and relates more particularly to the v riety of such systems commonly employed "tor suppiyin g fluid ituel to internal coml ustion motors and employing an auxiliary tank which is alternately filled and empt ed to Stipl'jly successive units of fluid to the motor, the chief object of the invention being to provide a practical, accurate, and inexp apparat s f the ab v s harac e in which the size of theunitssupplied s adjustable to a predetermined,known quan city, so that the auxiliary tank may be utiliced as a metering container in connection with registering mechanism for measur ng the amount of fluid supplied o-vejra giyen period of time. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain mproven'acnts and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel i'eateures being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specif cation.

in the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in cen- .ral section of a portion ot'a fluid supply n having'the invention applied thereto .re 2 is a similar yiewiot aportion of i 4 iai'atus shown in Figure 1 in central ction enlarged.

Figure is a section of apart ottheap nefistus shown in Figure 2 on the line I3 -23 thereof with an adj ustin'g element applied thereto.

Fiqure i is a horizontal section onthe elevation of an adjusting; i a part oat the apparatus, and re 6 is a measuring vessel also formrt of the apparatus.

i 1 reference characters throughout 7 several views indicate the same parts.

it his invention is capable of various'pra'cical embodiments differing in details of OHSti'IlCtlOH and operation, one such embodiu nt being disclosed herein by Way of ilh. ion of the principles involved and rred practical application thereof. in the present instance use ismade otthe well known float operated, auxiliary vacuum tank employed in a common type of auto mobile fluid fuel feeding system and which alternately tilled and emptied for feeding successive units of fluid of constant size from the main tanlrto themotor. With this tank is combined what may be termed a calibrating device comprising aacontainer of adjustable capacity which is filled with a predetermined increment of fluid, and discharged into the tank at each operation of the latter. Thus each successive unit supplied by the auxiliary tank to the motor has added thereto an increment suificient in amount to give to the unit a oredetermined known quantity so that for a given period ot'time the number of such calibrated units Supp ed .i diicate th am n 0 flu u d- .Bhe calibmting' d vice s o n e ently a t c b e to h ordina y aux li ry nk W th tal e t ono t e l tte and adapts the same for use with registering mechanism :t'orinciicating various data relating to line consumpt ve Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l and 2, there is shown at '10 an auxiliarytank such as is commonly used in automobile fluid supply .s for teeding gasoline from a main supp .y tank to the motor, which will, for convenience, be briefly described. The pres ent tanlcis of the float controlled, Vacuum operated. typehaving at its top a pipe 11 for commi lnic tion with the atmosphere and at its bottom a discharge opening connected by apiipe 112 with: the carburetor; or other motor intake part. ,At 13 Within the tanl; is the float chamber discharging through a check valve 14 into the auxiliary tank 1:0. Controllin an Opening or ert bQiZ'WGQ' I the top of ll1e float chamber and the top of the tanlt and therefore communicating With the atmosphere is a Valve 15 seating downwardly for opening and closingcommunication between the float chamber and the atmosphere. At 16 is a valve seating upwardly and controlling communication between the float chamber and a pipe 17 leading to aasource of reduced pressure usually obtained by connection with thejintake;manifold oft-the motor. At 1-8 is theuthrea'ded opening in the top of the float chamber ordinarily provided for the attachment of a pipe leading to the usual main supply tank (not shown) and .connected thereto initli'e present case by means presently to be described. Valves l5 and 16 have-their stems suitably connect-ed with a lever 19 pivotedat 20 on a lug depending from the top of the float chamber, and pivotallysupportednat the same cent-ch20 is a levrQ-il. the outer end of which is connected with-the outer end of lever 19 by means of a coiledspring; 2-2. A link 23 is pivotally nae iii?) connected to lever 21 and to a lever 24; pivotally supported at 25 adjacent the side of the chamber, and the lever is pivotally connect- 7 ed at its opposite end 26 with a float 27 arranged to rise and tall with the surface of the fluid in the float chamber. Float 27 by m ans oi the lever described, throws the leve 19 and 2 to one side or other oi a peel ion of parallelism in which positions they are retained by the spring 22, as well understood in the art.

As fluid is discharged through pipe 12 to the motor and its surface falls in the float chamber 13 the float of course descends and linally moves levers 19 and 21 downwardly thereby cutting oil atmospheric connection and opening communication with the reduced pressure through pipe 17. This causes the fluid from the main tank to be drawn through the line connected therewith and with opening 18 into the float chamber and as this occurs and the float rises, levers 19 and 20 are finally moved to their upward position and reverse the disposition oi valves 15 and 16 so that the reduced pressure connection is cut off and atmospheric pressure established in the chamber 13 and tank 10, which stops the flow of fluid into the tank and permits the discharge of the same therefrom to the motor, as well known in the art.

Apparatus of the above type for alternately filling and emptyingan auxiliary tank and thus supplying successive units of fluid have been used in various forms, some actuated by a reduction and others by an increase of pressure relative to that of the atn'iosphere, and in some cases floats similar to that described above have been employed to change the pressure connections, while in other apparatus other means have been adopted for causing th e'alternate filling and emptying of the tank. In most types of apparatus of this sort, however, while any given piece of apparatus may be relied upon to supply successive units of fluid of a constant and characteristic size, the units supplied by diiierent samples of apparatus even of the same type generally vary more or less, due to inadvertent variations in construction and conditions of adjustment. This ariation in the size of the units fed to the motor by the auxiliary tank has been a source of some difficulty wherever it is desired to use the auxiliary tank as a. meter for measuring the quantity of fuel supplied during a given period of time or during the performance of a given amount of work, as, for example, in the use of the apparatus disclosed in my application for Letters Patent ial No. 200,261, filed November 5, 1917, registering mechanisms. For the accurate functioning of registering mechanism 1' the type disclosed in said application it is desirable to have the auxiliary tank supply at each operation an accurately known quantity oft fluid, or in other words to calibrate the operation of the auxiliary tank to apredetermined standard, and it is to this end that the invention has been applied in the present instance to the type of auxiliary tank disclosed above.

The calibrating device preferably comprises a container of adjustable capacity located'in the line of communication be tween the main supply tank and the huid inlet opening 18 of the float chamber, and in the present instance this container operates to add to each unit of iiuid normally drawn into the float chamber, an increment sutlicient to increase the unit finally supplied to and delivered by the auxiliary tank, to or quantity slightly larger than the maximum of the range of units normally delivered by auxiliary tanks or this variety under the variations of construction and adjustment. in other words, the calibrating container has a maximum capacity sutlicient to increase the smallest normal unit met with in such auxiliary tanks to a standard known unit somewhat larger than the largest normal unit met with in such tanks, so that it can be used to calibrate practically any tank. The calibrating container is preterably tormed ina casing or housing 28 which for convenience is preferably provided at its bottom with a threaded nipple 29 adapted to engage in the threaded opening 18 normally provided in a common type of auniliary tank, so that the device may be readily attached to an ordinary rank without alteration of the latter. The container is shown at 30 as having a substantial cylindrical shape with the upper end of which coinmunicates a passageway 31 extending through an integral coupling sleeve 32 on the housing threaded for connection therewith of a pipe leading to the main supply tank. Communicating with the upper per-- tion of container 30 also, level with or somewhat below inlet opening 31, is an overflow passage 33 cored out in the walls of the housing and extending its lower end S-Zl through the nipple 29 for communication with the float chamber. The container is preferably closed at its upper end by a threaded plug which itself has a central opening for a purpose which will presently appear, closed by a cap 36. The housing at the bottom of the container has a bore 3'? formed therein in which is inserted and fixed, as by means of a locking spindle 38, a threaded rod 39 extending upwardly centrally of the container adjacent its top. Rotatable in the container is a piston 40 having a resilient tlange ll in fluid tight engagement with the walls and a relatively small opening 42 communicating with the bottom of the container and from the latter through a passageway 13 with the passageof the particular piece of apparatus.

way o-l and thence through nipple 29 with the float chamber. The piston has a hub portion a l having a threaded opening engaging rod 39 so that it may be adjusted by rotation longitudinally of the container to vary the capacity of the latter, it being apparent from this construction that as fluid is drawn through the inlet opening 31 into the container the latter is first quickly filled and the fluid then overflows through the passages 33 and 34: until the float chamber has drawn into it the normal working unit The float then operates to shut oil the reduced pressure and admit atmospheric pressure and the flow of fluid into the chamber ceases. The contents of the filled chamber then drain into the float chamber and auxiliary tank as an increment to its normal unit. By adjusting the position of piston therefore the container 30 may be made to hold an increment of fluid of suiiicient size to complement the unit ordinarily supplied by the apparatus and increase the size of the latter to a predetermined known quantity. This quantity may be selected so as to be slightly larger than any normal unit of the range oi variations met with in auxiliary tank of this variety, and the registering mechanism to be used with the supply system may be calibrated in accordance with the size of unit selected so that the auxiliary tank is thus regulated to accurately supply the size or unit for which the registering .iechanisin described is adapted.

The means for adjusting piston it) to vary the capacity of the container comprises preferably a shoulder on the hub lt of piston 40 with which is adapted to engage the recessed lower end 46 or an adjusting element 1:7 preferably in the form of a rod or spindle having a knurled handle as at its upper end and adapted to be inserted through the opening in plug 35 at the top of the container after the cap 36 has been removed. Element 47 of course has a cenral bore in which it receives rod 39 and the low r end of the element is thus readily lnought into engagement with the shoulder of the piston and the latter rotated as re quired to adjust its position. The element ii? has marked thereon, as shown in Figure 5, a scale 49 adapted in connection with means described below for indicating the position of adjustment of the piston 40.

The means for determining the proper amount of adjustment of the container capacity for any given piece of apparatus comprises preferably a measuring vessel 50, Figure 6, having marked on its wall a scale 51 corresponding to scale 49 on the adjusting element 47, butin reverseforder from top to bottom. Vessel 50 when filled contains the predetermined standard unit of feed, in the present instance four ounces,

of its construction.

and the scale 51 indicates in fractions of. an

ounce the quantity required to ill the receptacle from the levels indicated by the various scale graduations or in other words, the increment necessary to fill the vessel or .iake up the standard.

In making a determina ion or the proper adjustment for a given piece of apparatus the auxiliary tank has its outlet 12 closed and fluid is supplied to the tank until the float operates to cut oil the reduced pressure and admit the atmosphere. Vessel 50 is then placed under the outlet of the tank and the latter opened and the fluid allowed to discharge into the measuring vessel until the float just operates in its lower position .to reestablish connection with the reduced pressure line as in drawing in a new supply of fluid. The quantity of fluid in vessel 50 is noted at this point on scale .51. In adjusting piston 40 the adjusting element or red d7 must be turned to rotate and lower the piston until the same point on scale 49 comes opposite the top of plug 35 as was found to correspond with the surface of the fluid unit in the measuring vessel 50. .llVith the calibration thus made the adjusting element 4:? is removed and the cap 36 replaced, after which the auxiliary tank in each operation will supply the standard known unitdesired, thereby adapting the auxiliary tank for use an accurate meter of the quantity of fluid fed to the motor so that it may be used in connection with the register mechanism referred to.

The operation of the invention has been explained in connection with the description The device may be com structed of a size suitable for any type oi auxiliary tank, whether operated by a pressure above or below atmospheric pressure, or controlled by the float or other means, and may be adapted as indicated above for convenient attachment to the auxiliary tank and the fluid supply line. The means for determining the proper adjustment of the device to suit the particular apparatus with which it is employed is simple .in construction and operation but of course may be varied to suit particular requirements. After being installed and adjusted the device operates reliably without further attention and the simple and practical form of construction employed is capable of manufacture at a low cost.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a fluid supply system comprising an auxiliary tank and means for alternately filling and emptying the same to supply successive units of fluid, of a calibrating device for said system comrisin a container ada ated to hold an increment of fluid of a size suiflcient to increase the size of each un1t supplied to a selected quantity, an overflow connection from said'container to said tank through which the latter is filled and means for discharging said increment from the container into said tank.

2. The combination with a fluid supply system comprisin an auxiliary tank and means for alternately filling and emptying the same to supply successive units oil fluid, of a calibrating device for said system comprising a container having an overflow connection through which said tank is filled, a drainage connection from said container to said tank, and means for adjusting the capacity of said container, for increasing the size of each unit supplied to a selected quantity.

3. The combination with a fluid supply system comprising an auxiliary tank and means for alternately filling and emptying the same to supply successive units of fluid, of a calibrating device for said system com prising a container having an overflow con nection throi'lgh which said tank is filled, a drainage connection from said container to said tank, and a movable bottom for said container for adjusting the capacity thereof and increasing the size of each unit supplied to a selected quantity.

l. The combination with a tluid supply system having means operating intermittently to supply successive units of fluid, of a graduated vessel for measuring the size of said units, a calibrating device for changing the size of each unit supplied to a selected quantity, and an adjusting means for aid device graduated to correspond with the graduations of said measuring vessel so that the adjustment of the calibrating device may be directly determined through'the adjusting means by the measurement indi cated on the scale of the measuring vessel.

5. The combination with a fluid supply system having means operating intermittently to supply successive units of fluid, of a graduated vessel for measuring the size of said units, a calibrating device for said system comprising a container communicating therewith for adding an increment of fluid to each unit supplied, adjusting means cooperating with said container for regulating the size of said increment to in crease the size of each unit supplied to a selected quantity, and an element for moving said adjusting means graduated to correspond with the graduations of said measuring vessel, so that the adjustn'ient of the calibrating device may be directly determined through said adjusting means and element by the measurement indicated on the graduations on said vessel.

6. The combination with a fluid supply system having means operating intermittently to supply successive units otfiuid,

of a graduated vessel for measuring the size of said units, a calibrating device for said system comprising a container communicating with said system and arranged to add an increment of fluid to each unit supplied, a movable wall for said container for adjusting the capacity thereof and the size of said increment to change each unit to a selected quantity, and an element for adjusting said movable wall having graduations thereon to correspond with the graduations of said measuring ves el for indieating the desired de ree of adjustment, so that the adjustment of the calibrating device may be directly determined through the adjustment of said element and wall in accordance with the measurement indicated on the graduations of said vessel.

7. The combination with a fluid supply system comprising an auxiliary tank having liquid inlet and discharge openings, of a container supported in said inlet opening having adjacent its top a connection for a liquid supply conduit and also an overflow passage connected with said tank inlet opening, a piston forming a movable wall in said container to adjust the capacity thereof and having a drainage opening of relatively small are connected with said tank inlet opening, valves controlling additional openings in said tank adapted for connecting the latter with the atmosphere and with a partial vacuum and float means in the tank for operating said valves.

8. As an article of manufacture, a calibrating device for an intermittently operating fluid supply system for calibrating the units of fluid supplied intermittently there by, comprising a container having an inlet for connection with the supply line or" said system and a restricted drainage outlet for connection with said system inlet, an overflow conduit for said container communicating with said system inlet, and means for adjusting the capacity of said container.

9. As an article of manufacture, a calibrating device for an inter nittently opeating fluid supply system for calibrating the units of fluid supplied intermittently thereby comprising a container having an inlet for connection with the supply line of said system and a restricted drainage outlet for connection with said system-inlet, an overflow conduit for said container communicating with said system inlet, a graduated vessel for measuring the unit supplied by said system, and means for adjusting the capacity of said container graduated to C01 respond with the graduations of said vessel so that the adjustment thereof may be determined by the measurement indicated on the graduations of said vessel.

ADOLPH STUBEL 

